Kids say the darndest things – about money. How can you help them?

The 20^th of November marks World Children’s Day. To celebrate the day, we quizzed some kids about what money means to them. To our surprise, many of the children recognised the importance of money, and the value of saving it as a means of fulfilling a long-term dream.

To get their understanding of the subject, we asked the children four financial questions.

Tip: To hear more of what the children had to say, watch this video.

What is money?

Almost all the children understood that we need money to buy the things we want or need.

As five-year-old Imaad and four-year old Mikail said we need money to buy food, drinks, and of course ice cream, suckers, toys, pillows, bags, and cups.

Others such as ten-year-old Anru and nine-year-old Racheal understand that money is used to buy a house, pay your bills and to take care of your children.

Why is money important?

Data, transport, fruit, school fees, water, and snacks were some of the items that the kids mentioned.

“You use money to get something that you need or you’ll probably need in the future like a house,” says  Ruvarashe, a nine-year-old. She says money is also used to buy a car.

“Money is important because you use it to pay your school fees, buy food, water, and other important stuff,” says Mihle, a nine-year-old.

What is saving?

According to 12-year-old Shasmeen, saving means putting money aside – in a deposit account or investment fund.

To seven-year-old Jordan, it means putting it in a piggy bank.

Why is it important to save?

Racheal understands that saving will keep her from borrowing. “I can just take out my own money and buy what I want,” she says.

According to Kauthar, a nine-year-old, if you save, you might have a lot of money to buy nice things. “Saving is important so you can do something big that you always wanted to do,” says Mkhanyisi, an-11 year-old.

“If you don’t save, you’ll never have enough money to get the things that you want,” says Anru.

The earlier the better to instil a savings culture

According to Sarah Nicholson, commercial manager at JustMoney, talking to your kids about money is vital, because it gives you the opportunity to instil good money habits and a healthy savings culture in your children from a young age.

“This could mean the difference between them growing up to be financially responsible, secure individuals, or individuals who are unable to manage their cost of living,” says Nicholson.

Cowyk Fox, managing executive of everyday banking at Absa, says that engendering an appreciation for the power of savings (including delayed gratification) and teaching the next generation about the power of compounding at an early age are important steps in the road to financial independence.

“Financial wellness is not an event but a journey. Helping children understand money, how to manage it, and the importance of savings are crucial life lessons,” he says.

Yashen Singh, CEO of premium core banking at FNB agrees. “By building good money management behaviours from an early age, you will enable your children to make more informed financial decisions when they reach adulthood, making them financially resilient and independent.”

READ MORE: Which bank account is best for your child?

Hints and tips for parents

Teaching your children about money can seem intimidating, but you may already be well on your way without even knowing it.

• Start young – the traditional approach is to buy your toddler a money box, so they can see how their money can be saved and how it can grow over time. 
• Use everyday events – your shopping trips, your bill payments, games and books to bring financial concepts to life in a fun and practical way.
• Set the example – show your children what it means to be financially responsible by paying your bills on time, setting aside emergency funds, and saving up for special treats.
• Teach your children about budgeting – help them set goals for the things that they want and tick off financial “milestones” on the way. If you give your children spending money, or compensate them for chores, this could be deposited into their account and could be saved towards their goals.
• Let them save for a major purchase – this will help them to become accustomed to delayed gratification, also helping them understand the difference between needs and wants.

Fox says parents need to impart lifelong principles of money management, including savings, responsible spending, learning how to make pocket money “last longer”, and how to operate an account in preparation for when children will become independent.

To stand a chance of winning a kids’ savings account and R 1000, watch this video and share.